Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Divisions Actually Scandalized Melanchthon and Other Early Protestants Like Calvin and Luther

Today divisions and endless theological quarrels and divisions (institutionally or in spirit) are winked at and rationalized with drivel such as "primary vs. secondary doctrines" or supposed "agreement on essentials." The first Protestants understood that schism and division was a huge scandal and cause for regret and misery. For example, Luther's right-hand man and successor, Philip Melanchthon wrote:

If my eyes were a fountain of tears, as rich as the waters of the river Elbe, I could not sufficiently express my sorrow over the divisions and distractions of Christendom.

(from: The New American Cyclopaedia, edited by George Ripley and Charles Anderson Dana, New York: D. Appleton and Co., 1861, Vol. 11, "Melanchthon," p. 361; primary source: Epistles, Book 4, epistle 100; see the same exact quote in The Unitarian Review of 1874, pp. 450-451 and American Presbyterian Review, Vol. 1, 1869, pp. 248-249; and a similar translation in The Presbyterian Review, Vol. 5, 1884, pp. 467-468)

The controversies among the Protestants in the sixteenth century roused all the religious and political passions and cast a gloom over the bright picture of the Reformation. Melanchthon declared that with tears as abundant as the waters of the river Elbe he could not express his grief over the distractions of Christendom and the "fury of theologians."

John Schofield, in his book, Philip Melanchthon and the English Reformation (London: Ashgate Publishing, 2006), provides the background context of a similar letter written to the English "reformer" Thomas Cranmer, c. April Fool's Day 1548:

. . . having heard of difficult negotiations over doctrine in England, he wrote to Cranmer, lamenting the plight of the church, 'buffeted as she is with divisions and strife', and lamenting that she would be buffeted still further if her leaders failed to agree. These calamities, he wrote, brought such sorrow and a 'greater flood of tears than the waters of our Elbe or your Thames', all these different theories and all this wrangling, and all the while the true teaching of the ancient church is disregarded. Philip urged Cranmer to deliberate with good and true men, and repeated what he had said in an earlier (probably lost) letter, that the church needed an inclusive, unambiguous declaration of faith and doctrine for the benefit of future generations.

. . . the letter of his son Jonas arrived, in which he relates to me a certain conversation of yours, on a Question, by no means obscure, but which has severely shaken the Churches, and will shake them still more severely, because those who bear rule do not seek for true remedies in so momentous a matter.

I do not, however, desire in this letter to do any thing more than express my grief, which is so great, that it could not be exhausted, though I were to shed a flood of tears as large as our Elbe or your Thames.

You see what a multitude of explanations have been elaborated in former times, and are elaborated at this day; because a simple and sincere [appeal to] antiquity is neglected. But I omit a longer discussion at this time, not merely because the messengers are in haste, but because I do not love labyrinths; for you must be aware that it has always been my desire, on many subjects, that every thing should be completely disentangled.

I implore you to deliberate with good and truly learned men, both as to what should be determined, and as to what moderation may be expedient, in the first instance, in teaching. I could have wished, (as I wrote in a former letter,) both with regard to this question and to some other matters, that a Summary of necessary doctrine might be publicly set forth, without any private feeling; after the deliberations and decisions of pious and learned men, brought together for the discussion of those matters: so that no ambiguities should be left to posterity, as an apple of discord.

The Council of Trent makes its crafty Decrees, in order to protect its errors by ambiguous expressions. Such sophistry ought to be far away from the Church. There is not the least absurdity in true things being proposed in right words: both the goodness of the matters themselves, and their perspicuous enunciation, would invite the attention of upright minds in every part of the world.

From the very first, the Stoical disputations in our country concerning Fate, were exceedingly disgusting, and prejudicial to discipline. Wherefore, I beseech you, bend your mind to some such formula of doctrine. . . .

For you see how the eyes of many are turned upon us, so that the wicked take occasion from our dissensions to speak evil, and the weak are only perplexed by our unintelligible disputations. Nor in truth, is it of little importance to prevent the suspicion of any difference having arisen between us from being handed down in any way to posterity; for it is worse than absurd that parties should be found disagreeing on the very principles, after we have been compelled to make our departure from the world.. . .And surely it is indicative of a marvellous and monstrous insensibility, that we so readily set at nought that sacred unanimity, by which we ought to be bringing back into the world the angels of heaven.

1) The devil seeing that this sort of disturbance could not last, has devised a new one; and begins to rage in his members, I mean in the ungodly, through whom he makes his way in all sorts of chimerical follies and extravagant doctrines. This won't have baptism, that denies the efficacy of the Lord's supper; a third, puts a world between this and the last judgment; others teach that Jesus Christ is not God; some say this, others that; and there are almost as many sects and beliefs as there are heads.

I must cite one instance, by way of exemplification, for I have plenty to do with these sort of spirits. There is not one of them that does think himself more learned than Luther; they all try to win their spurs against me;. . .

2) Such is the blindness and presumption of these frantic heads, which even by their own judgment do condemn themselves. . . . let the minister of Christ know that so long as he teacheth Christ purely, there shall not be wanting perverse spirits, yea, even of our own, and among ourselves, which shall seek, by all means possible, to trouble the church of Christ. . . . Yea, let him rejoice in the troubles which he suffereth by these sects and seditious spirits, continually springing up one after another.

3) "In 1545, he published, in his Annotations on Genesis, and in other forms, the most bitter expressions against the Reformed, denominating Zuinglius, Oecolampadius and their adherents 'Enemies of the Sacrament,' 'Heretics,' and 'Reprobates.' Long ago, he declares, he had ceased to pray for men who were murderers of souls . . ."

4) Why should I fret and fume against the papists? All they have done against me has been in fair, open war: we are declared enemies, and act as such. They who hurt me most are my own dear children. My brothers, fraterculi mei, aurei amiculi mei -- they who, if Luther had not written, would know nothing of Christ, or of the gospel, and would not have shaken off the papal yoke; for even if they had had the power to do so, the courage would have been wanting. I thought I had gone through, had exhausted all the adversities the evil one could inflict; but it was not so. My Absalom, the child of my heart, had not deserted his father, had not poured out ignominy upon David; my Judas, the terror of the disciples of Christ, the traitor who delivered up his master, had not sold me: he has done so now.

To the renown man -- Dr. Vitus Theodore, teacher of the Gospel in the church of Nuremberg, my friend and most beloved brother.

When I was pondering my official reply at Regensburg, I decided that I would speak in the introduction about the churches of ancient Germany, which were first established by disciples of the Apostles before the times of the Goths. Among these was Regensburg, which Lucius of Cyrene founded, who was the son of that old man who helped the Son of God carry the cross. Many things could be splendidly said in that introduction to edify the pious men both in that city and indeed in others.

Then I would speak of true invocation and of the true use of the Sacraments, avoiding those contentious matters concerning the adoration of the bread, which you do not wish to avoid. You think both that all things must be said and that no hesitation in making their arguments suits courageous men. I, on the other hand, overlook many things, and constantly yield to arguments. But I know that I am laughed at by many, and I bear this easily. But I would wish that they and others could look into my heart. If I could pour forth as many tears as our Elbe, when full, carries waves, I could not exhaust the sorrow caused by this dissension. May God the eternal Father of our Lord Jesus Christ help us -- whom I thank for restoring Lord Jerome to his most honest wife and sweetest children, to your churches and to all of us; and I pray that (God) may keep him safe and may guide him so that he may be a vessel of mercy. Farewell, on the day of the Fall equinox. Philipp Melanchthon

Btw, you think the reference given on p. 86 of this book might be a possible reference to the above linked 1642 edition of Mel's Latin letters?

Also I might add that I've had these references (and a ton more on various topics) for quite some time now (some going back years like all of the above); just haven't benn posting most of them. Need to change that!

Ben: Btw, you think the reference given on p. 86 of this book might be a possible reference to the above linked 1642 edition of Mel's Latin letters?

Adomnan: Well, it could be, because the 1642 edition includes four volumes of letters. On the other hand, the 1642 edition also includes some letters by St. Thomas More and Juan Luis Vives. So I'm not sure.

By the way, I should have written "To the renowned man" in my translation, of course, not "To the renown man."

Adomnan: Well, it could be, because the 1642 edition includes four volumes of letters. On the other hand, the 1642 edition also includes some letters by St. Thomas More and Juan Luis Vives. So I'm not sure.

Ben: Thanks Adomnan. Might be a little closer now to tracking this one down.:)

Thinking about it more, I believe this may well be the four-volume set of Melanchthon's letters that your link refers to.

Thomas More and Juan Luis Vives are mentioned in the title, but their letters are only included to the extent that they are corresponding with Melanchthon.

The "Foreword to the Reader" (Praefatiuncula ad Lectorem) says, "Since we indeed have observed that Thomas More and Luis Vives, not only enjoyed friendship with these men (i.e., Erasmus and Melanchthon, mentioned earlier), but exchanged letters with them because of their official duties. Those (letters), selected from their "Works," we thought needed to be included with these of ours" ("ours" here apparently means "our collection of Melanchthon's letters").

I suppose that the extra letters were added because the book was published in London and so they wanted to include some of Melanchthon's English correspondents. Vives, although Spanish, had been a professor at Oxford. On the other hand, the book is dedicated to George Frederick of Brandenburg by a certain Casper Peucer.

The fact that this was published in England would also make it more likely that the English author you linked to was referring to this, don't you think?

I see there's another edition of this book on line that was published in 1647.

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